Outtakes from CD 14: CLARTS Fund Transparency Held Hostage, Day 46 and other CD 14 News
Hola and great Monday to all from the "Cut and Paste Republic of CD 14".
Today marks Day 46 of the CLARTS Fund Transparency Crisis in CD 14. It seems that our esteem Councilman Jose Huizar, fancies himself as being above the law, in this case the California Public Records Act.
As we have reported in previous "Outtakes from CD 14" posts, Carlos Morales, Editor and Publisher of The Voice Newspaper, made a Public Records Act request to Councilman Huizar's Chief of Staff Ana Cubas, pertaining to the status of the CLARTS Fund. This request was part of a story that I wrote for The Voice regarding the CLARTS Fund, in the March Edition of the paper.
We are now on Day 46 since we requested these documents and still Councilman Huizar continues to violate the integrity of the California Public Records Act. This disregard for the law, now has carry over to a Downtown LA pocket park proposal being spearheaded by Councilman Huizar.
Los Angeles Garment and Citizen Newspaper Editor Jerry Sullivan, reports in the paper's latest edition that his Public Records Act request, regarding the Prop 84 grant application for the proposed park, has been rejected.
Officials of the State of California recently issued a formal denial of a request by the Garment & Citizen for a copy of the grant application submitted by the City of Los Angeles as part of a $6.6 million plan to purchase a 0.7-acre parcel of land at 9th and Hill streets and turn it into a park.
State officials have confirmed that some price or estimated price for the land was included in the application for a grant to help pay for the project, which is being spearheaded by 14th District Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar.
The refusal by both city and state officials to disclose details that would indicate how much of the $6.6 million would go to purchase the parcel of land at 9th and Hill streets—and how much would be used to pay for amenities such as a performance stage, a play area, “fitness stations” and other features on the site—has raised concerns among some community members. Critics say the lack of specific information leaves them with insufficient information to judge whether the plan is feasible or desirable.
Strange, this is the same lack of specific information pertaining to the CLARTS Fund, that is causing a growing number of CD 14 activists, to wonder what has become of the community amenities fund created by former Councilman Nick Pacheco....... and maybe the truth on what Councilman Huizar has done with the money, is an undesirable political liability for Jose........
OTHER CD 14 NEWS:
** Can we consider this a barometer of Councilman Huizar's standing in the Boyle Heights Community? Unofficial tallies form last Thursday's Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council Elections has consummate community activist/gadfly/friend of Mayor Sam, Jose Aguilar, pulling a "Scott Brown" on reigning Boyle Heights NC President Sal Martinez. No word whether Councilman Huizar has called Aguilar to offer his congratulations.
** Results for the rest of Region G's Neighborhood Council Elections, can be seen by linking here.
** This story on the "growing pains" of the "connected non-profit" Legacy LA, will surely cause one to shed a tear for this political creation. But don't feel too bad for Legacy LA's Executive Director Lou Calanche, she may had won her first election after three tries, by getting elected to the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council. USC and her friend David Galaviz will surely be glad to have someone back on the LHNC, to push their agenda.
** Something interesting from our former CD 14 brethren in Lincoln Heights. It seems that "Mr. Lincoln Heights" realtor and friend of Art Snyder, Steve Kasten, has form a "Business Improvement District" or BID for short, in Lincoln Heights.
If anyone wanted to work one day a week and make $5,000 a month, then this BID is for you, from the LH BID minutes.
d. Executive Director contract
Misty left the room as her contract was discussed. Wiilliam expressed satisfaction with her expertise and said she is worth every penny of $5000/month. Sevin pointed out that since she is only working part time for us perhaps she should receive less compensation. Steve suggested a survey of compensation for executive directors. He has expressed to Misty that the meeting notices should be mailed earlier and that they should go out to all the people on the sign-in sheets. Steve has donated office space in his building. Discussion: should Misty be expected to spend a specific amount of time there to give a public face to the BID? Perhaps one or two days. William wondered whether we should tie her down for two days a week but one day seems reasonable. The consensus was that one day and other times by appointment would be about right. MOTION: Approve executive director contract with Misty Iwatsu for $5000/month requiring one regular business day a week at the office and other times by appointment. Either party may cancel the contract with 30 days written notice. Moved: Wad a/2nd Aparicio. VOTE: unanimous. Motion passed.
Was it one of these types of deals that former Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce President Steve Lampson, stumble upon in his duties at the Chamber, that cause Steve Kasten to initiate a coup which removed Lampson as President?
Your thoughts....................
Scott Johnson in CD 14
Labels: "COUNCILMAN LAST SEEN AS JOSE HUIZAR", Carlos Morales, CLARTS Fund, Outtakes from CD 14, The Voice Newspaper
Posted by Red Spot in CD 14 @ 5/03/2010 11:00:00 AM
26 Comments:
Scott,
Remember Voter Improvement Program. Jose Huizar, LAUSD, Ben Austin election. Voter Improvement group with SEIU in the news today.
At least Huizar is putting $$$ into Broadyway. Even if Boyle Heights & El Sereno can't get a sidewwalk repaired at least people going to see a show at the theater can walk without almost breaking their leg!
"The street itself is also getting a makeover, with an infrastructure plan estimated at $35 million.
More than $7 million in work has already taken place, with sidewalk repairs on portions of Broadway between Third and Fifth streets. The upgrades, which cost $1.5 million per side, per block, include reconstructing the basements under the sidewalks,
Other parts of the plan call for wider sidewalks, transit stations and reducing traffic flow to three lanes,
“Obviously people want to see a more pedestrian-friendly Broadway,” Huizar said.
So far $13 million has been identified for the project. Officials expect to spend $4 million on improvements this year.
Downtown News
I am getting lots of emails from people complaining about the Recall.
Saying that I need to do things a certain way.
That I need to have "X" number of signatures already....
Insulting my progress. Abusing people who are involved. Ridiculing them.
These peoples comments are unimportant.
If they can do a better job than I can, I encourage them to file their own Recall.
I am not afraid to attempt this massive project.
It is possible that I might fail. I accept that potential outcome.
But it is also possible I might succeed.
My sense of vision allows me to see a future where that happens.
But if we do not try, it guarantees that there will be no change.
The citizens of Los Angeles deserve better than that.
Congratulations Jose Aguilar.
OMG!!!! GOOD FOR JOSE!!! Finally the community will be properly represented. Big CONGRATS!!
PHIL,
YOU TOLD HIGBY THAT YOU ARE "NOT CONCERNED" ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES.
THAT IS EXTREMELY ALARMING. YOU DO WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DO, IN BLAMING THE VICTIM HERE.
YOU ASSURED US THAT YOU'D KEEP US INFORMED. NOW YOU'RE TELLING US YOU "HAVE NO IDEA" HOW MANY SIGNATURES YOU HAVE.
YOU SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE ARE ANGRY WITH YOU OVER THIS. THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU PROMISED.
AND INSTEAD OF TELLING US WHAT YOU ALREADY DO KNOW, THAT YOU'RE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES BEHIND, YOU BLAME US FOR BEING ABUSIVE.
WELL FUCK YOU, MR. I WANNA BE IN CONGRESS. WHEN YOU LIE TO US, WHEN YOU ARE DECEPTIVE TO US, YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET A SINGLE VOTE OTHER THAN YOUR OWN.
COUGH UP THE RESULTS.
YOU KNOW THE RESULTS.
AND IF YOU REALLY DONT KNOW THE RESULTS, THEN YOU ARE A BIGGER IDIOT THAN MOST PEOPLE ALREADY SUSPECT YOU ARE.
Jennerjahn has a "process"
Bullshit!
He has no plan, no process and no clue.
phil, if you don't have any idea how many signatures you have at this point, several weeks into the recall, how do you know if you will need to tweak your plans or not?
if you dont know what's going on, you are going to be unable to make critical changes.
it's okay. it's just our city and your word that's on the line. that's all.
Way to cut & paste from your blog phil. Cant you come up with an original and sincere comment?
The Lincoln Heights BID seems to be mischaracterized as being Kasten's creation when the City Council had to approve it years ago.
Seems like the Exec. Dir. pay is like the CMs pay- way too much for a few days of work: $5,0000/month?
$60,000.00/year for part-time work?
And I thought it was just the DWP and City Council that gouged residents and businesses.
Has anyone checked with the businesses involved about what they are paying for and what they are getting?
Report on that, it might be more interesting than the mention of the LH BID here.
CMs get $15,000/month but they spend lots more time messing up things for all of us, and that's aside from practicing their acting roles on Ch. 35 during meetings.
Phil:
In your childlike way you fail to understand that what people are saying is that your vision is not backed by a plan. If there is a plan to get all these signatures, you should tell people because then more of them will be motivated to help you.
If you don't have a plan, and it's all just a crude way to get pubblicity for yourself, then say so. We'll understand.
Just be honest with people. It's what we want from our elected officials and those who would like to become an elected official.
Phil said "My process."
Oh brother! Dude, if you HAD a process, you'd KNOW how many signatures you have.
And "My sense of vision." Are you kidding us, Phil? You have no vision because you can't articulate it.
Your only "vision" is the delusional one where you think this lying and deception will get you to Congress. You mean that vision?
Bro, you are one childish scooter.
Here is how you know Phil is a LIAR!
How can we be abusing your "volunteers" if we don't know who they are?
Explain THAT Phil! How in the world do we know who's gathering signatures? Noone has come to my door, and I've not seen ANY BODY collecting signatures at my local supermarket.
This is just Phil's way of not telling us jack shit.
Phil, your campaign is as dead as the recall.
Hi Phil you ass wipe!
Gordy the Weatherman says you're an idiot.
Lou Grant & M.T. Moore
Yet another Jennerjahn fib:
He said he was "invited" to speak at a republican event.
Just like he was "invited" to speak at the union rally at the mayor's house, only to get chased off when he and the "documentary" crew were told to scram.
No documentary.
No speech at the mayor's
No invitation at the republican event.
What an ASS hole!
Phil knows how many signatures there are and that's why he is saying he doesn't. Walter, David, & Phil have gathered less than 5000 signatures in 14 days. To stay on target they need to be at the 28000 mark today.
They don't want to reveal the numbers
because it will further demoralize an already demoralized campaign.
The situation is so bad that Hernandez is headed to Arizona to beg for money from people that hate Villar for boycotting AZ.
That's how bad it is. They can't even raise money locally to hire signature gatherers.
JOSE AGUILAR?!?!?!?
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!
I give that council 4 months with his as President and the Sayonara.
He won't keep them together.
Conspiracy theorists make bad leaders.
Higby and Red Spot will be eating Mike Gatto's shorts.
Press conference is coming baby; YOUR BUSTED.
Breaking News! The Recall City Hall
twitter page is rapidly expanding and in a mere 14 days now has an astounding 56 (that is five-six) followers! Take that naysayers!
Dayum, phil! Of those 56 followers, how many have not yet signed? 50?
Me hears that for his first meeting Boyle Heights folks are going to show up with video cameras to tape him, like has done to all of them.
Word on the street is that they won't wear "Erotica" hats like he does.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - I give that council 2 months to live!!
Scott Johnson lost again.....
First, Sierra Club kicks him out..................
Then, Hazard Park PAB gets rid of him......................
Then he loses two neighborhood council elections ......
Then he gets kicked out of the Ramona Gardens projects...........
DON"T GO TO VEGAS WITH HIM!!
Hear jose is gong to get his @$$ kicked by a old friend this coming election. Jose is so worried supposedly he is running around strong arming folks for campaign donations.
They should just ask the controllers office for the CLARTs request. Or public works who disburst the checks
Sounds like the rants of a clown.
Or, they can go online to the City's website and do the research on their own. The information is not restricted from ANYONE and ANYONE can view it. I am all for transparent democracy but I do hate those who expect to be catered to. If I see trash in front of my home, I don't wait weeks to have the City come pick it up. If it bothers me that much, I do it myself.
If you really want that information, go get it yourself already. It is there. I just searched.
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